Monthly Archives: December 2014

Wall Street’s Democrats

In Washington’s coming budget battles, sacred cows like the tax deductions for home mortgage interest and charitable donations are likely to be on the table along with potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare. But no one on Capitol Hill believes Wall Street’s beloved carried-interest tax loophole will be touched. Don’t blame the newly elected…

Comstock Resources Profits Hit By Production, Pricing Woes

On Dec 4, 2014, we issued an updated research report on Comstock Resources Inc. (CRK – Analyst Report). The energy explorer finds maintaining profitability a challenge amid declining production levels and weak commodity pricing. Operational issues also add to the problems. These are reflected in Comstock Resources’ current Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), implying that the stock is expected…

Yielding To Regional Banks’ Temptation

Pssst! Want the inside scoop? Follow the money. Insider money, I mean. Bank directors started their Christmas shopping last week—some in stocking stuffer bits and pieces, some in wholesale lots—with outright purchases of their companies’ shares. Five community banks and holding companies—Sussex Bancorp (Nasdaq: SBBX), Brookline Bancorp (Nasdaq: BRKL), First Merchants Corp. (Nasdaq: FRME), Access National…

US Equity Sectors Review

The great divide between health care and energy in US equities rolls on. Health care shares continue to dominate the recent rally in the US stock market while energy firms remain conspicuous laggards, based on one-year returns. In fact, energy is the only sector currently posting a loss for the trailing 252-trading-day period, according to a representative…